Five dead, eight injured in two separate accidents
The wreckage of the rally car that was involved in the accident. COURTESY PHOTOS
What you need to know:
- In a related development, four people have died on spot and seven others escaped with minor injuries following an accident at Agu Bridge along Ngora- Serere road.
National Rally Champion Jas Mangat was on Sunday involved in a car accident that left one person dead and another hospitalised with serious injuries in Mbarara District in Western Uganda.
The accident happened Sunday afternoon in Rubindi town on Ibanda Road during day two of Lato Milk Mbarara Rally.
Witnesses say Mangat’s rally car knocked two people who were riding on the motor cycle killing the rider instantly. The passenger was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
Rwizi Region Traffic Officer, Mr Justin Opus confirmed the accident and attributed it to the cyclist’s negligence.
He said residents had been cautioned about rally cars in the area.
“There was even a police opener car telling people the rally venue was out of bound. The rally driver had no problem. The cyclist was even using a wrong lane,” he said.
The wreckage of the motor bike bundled on a police truck after the accident.
FMU Vice President Hamidu Gombe, in a statement, said they fulfilled all the rally requirements.
“Mbarara Motor Club and the FMU reiterate its continued commitment to adhering to the necessary safety procedures and to ensure incident free events. Working with the relevant government departments, the Lato Milk Mbarara rally met the pre-requisite requirements including statutory instruments, insurance cover and an FMU events permit,” he said.
The three time NRC winner who was also the Mbarara-rally defending champion still emerged victor. The accident happened during the last section of the event.
Mangat posted 1:10.12.5 followed by Arthur Blick Jr who finished with 1:12.52.5 while Hassan Alwi in Subaru N14 finished third with 1:13.57. 4.
Mangat who was declared winner of the event for the second time also has three NRC titles to his name. FILE PHOTO
Four dead, seven injured in another car crash
In a related development, four people have died on spot and seven others escaped with minor injuries following an accident at Agu Bridge along Ngora- Serere road.
They were traveling in a taxi on Sunday morning when the driver lost control and knocked the bridge guards before plunging into Agu River.
Mr Michael Odongo, the East Kyoga Region Police spokesperson, said the taxi that was travelling from Pallisa to Serere lost control because the driver was speeding.
He said four people died while seven others with multiple injuries were rushed to Ngora Fred Carr hospital
"The bodies of two women, one gentleman and a child have been retrieved from the taxi, which is still stuck in the water," Mr Odongo said.
Some unconfirmed reports indicate that some bodies were washed down by water.
Francis Okedi, an official attached to Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) in Ngora District told URN that among the deceased is an expectant mother whose body is lying at Ngora Freda Carr Hospital theatre waiting for doctors to operate on it.
By the time of filing the story, the Chinese constructing Agu Water plant who earlier helped in retrieving the bodies from the water were also trying to recover the vehicle wreckage from the water.
